Scott priorities scorecard

Here are some of Gov. Rick Scott’s priorities for the 2013 Legislature and how lawmakers are likely to react over the next 60 days.

ISSUE: Medicaid

Scott wants lawmakers to use the Affordable Care Act, which he once strongly opposed, to expand Florida’s $21 billion Medicaid program. He argues that Florida is contributing tax dollars into the national Medicaid program and should receive its share back since the federal government will pay for 100 percent of the expansion over the next three years. It could reach an estimated 1 million poor and disabled Floridians.

OUTCOME: House leaders are strongly opposed to Medicaid expansion. Senate leaders seem to be open to the idea. It will present a classic opportunity for lawmakers to forge some sort of compromise in the next two months. But the shape of a grand bargain takes is hard to see at this point. This may be the most difficult goal facing lawmakers this spring and it would be easier to bet on its failure than success.

ISSUE: Teacher Pay

After slashing education funding by $1.3 billion and backing a bill that ended tenure for newly hired teachers, Scott now says “an investment in teachers is an investment in Florida’s future.” He calls for a $2,500 across-the-board pay raise, earning praise from the teachers’ union that bitterly fought him in his first year.

OUTCOME: Lawmakers are poised to give teachers and schools more money this year as the state’s recovering economy is generating more revenue. But legislative leaders have questions about the details of Scott’s plan. Lawmakers want to link the raises to a merit evaluation system rather than a straight raise. They also question how Scott could promise a $2,500 raise for every teacher since each county school system negotiates its salaries through collective bargaining. In the end, lawmakers will give more money to the schools which will translate into raises. But the raises are not likely to be across-the-board plan and will probably include money for raises for non-teaching personnel as well.

ISSUE: Education Funding

Scott wants a $1.2 billion boost for K-12 funding. After slashing $300 million from state universities last year, he wants $393 million for the state universities and more than $70 million for state colleges. Scott wants to give a special $15 million appropriation to the University of Florida to help it rise into the top ten of public universities. He also opposes tuition increases.

OUTCOME: Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, chairman of the Senate budget subcommittee on education, said he has not seen a proposal yet that would allow lawmakers to be as generous as Scott has proposed. School funding will rise in the new state budget, which takes effect July 1, but lawmakers may not reach Scott’s ambitious goals. There will be a fight over the special funding for UF, with other universities asking for similar compensation. Lawmakers seem to be in agreement with Scott’s call for no tuition hikes this year.

ISSUE: Tax Breaks

Scott wants to eliminate the state sales tax on equipment purchases by manufacturers to make Florida more competitive with other states and expand the state’s manufacturing base. Scott also wants to continue his incremental repeal of Florida’s corporate income tax. He wants to increase the exemption from $50,000 to $75,000, exempting another 2,000 businesses.

OUTCOME: Lawmakers are supportive of the governor’s tax cuts. The only question is the cost. Scott says his manufacturing tax break would result in the loss of some $115 million in state revenue, although some estimate it may be closer to $200 million on a recurring basis. But with more money in the budget, the tax break becomes more doable and it could be offset by increasing taxes elsewhere — such as the proposed sales tax on Internet transactions. Scott’s corporate tax break is a much easier lift, costing some $20 million. His more ambitious goal to completely eliminate the corporate income tax — which accounts for close to $2 billion a year — remains out of reach for now.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lloyd Dunkelberger is the Htpolitics.com Capital Bureau Chief.
He can be reached by email or call 850 556-3542.
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Last modified: March 5, 2013
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